Sherrie Dolks talks about the loss of her daughter to a fentanyl overdose

Sherrie Dolks wants to ensure no other family has to lose a loved one to fentanyl. She has lived the nightmare of losing 19-year-old daughter Tina to an accidental fentanyl overdose. “It has affected my family a lot. She has a sister and a brother who were devastated losing their sister. It’s obviously affected the mental health of people in the family. I think we’re all different now,” Dolks said, in a video appeal for others to avoid the drug. “If you’ve never tried fentanyl, don’t do it, because it’s so dangerous, so strong, it will kill you.” Since 2010 in Ontario, 577 people have died as a result of abusing fentanyl in some way. The opioid is a 100 times more potent than morphine and 40 times more potent than heroin. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Substance Abuse Committee partnered with Humber College’s AdCentre, creating a web-based campaign on the dangers of fentanyl. “Fentanyl is a killer. When someone misuses this legal painkiller prescribed by physicians, it kills. You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it. If your drug of choice happens to be cut with it, it will kill you,” said Niagara Regional Police Service Chief Jeff McGuire, the current OACP president. Learn more at FacetheFentanyl.ca